Spain's 2-0 victory over France in the 2026 World Cup semi-finals has been marred by controversy over a penalty awarded to the Spanish side in the first half. The decision has sparked debate, with many questioning whether the referee made the correct call.
The penalty was awarded after Lucas Digne challenged Lamine Yamal inside the French penalty area. Before the referee pointed to the spot, replays showed what appeared to be contact between the ball and Yamal's arm in the build-up. However, the incident centred on a challenge by Digne, with many arguing that Yamal's arm was in a natural position when the ball made contact.
According to Victor, an active Swedish referee and instructor, the point of contact was crucial to the decision. He described Digne's challenge as careless, arguing that the France defender should have been aware of Yamal's movement inside the penalty area. Victor also pointed to two similar incidents from the tournament involving Luka Modrić and Harry Kane, both of which resulted in penalties. He stated that Yamal did not deliberately handle the ball or use his arm to make his body unnaturally bigger, and that the outcome would have been different had Yamal gone on to score immediately after the touch.
The International Football Association Board (IFAB) Laws of the Game state that a player commits a handball offence if they deliberately handle the ball with their hand or arm, making their body unnaturally bigger. However, in this case, the ball struck above the handball boundary on Yamal's sleeve, making the contact not punishable. With the penalty awarded, Mikel Oyarzabal stepped up and converted to give Spain the lead in the 22nd minute. It was the first time France had fallen behind at any point during the tournament, and they never found a way back into the contest.
The victory sets up a showdown on July 19 in New Jersey, where Spain will face either England or Argentina, who meet in their semi-final on July 18 in Miami. France will play in the third-place play-off against the loser of that match. The controversy over the penalty has overshadowed what was otherwise a dominant performance by Spain, and has sparked debate among fans and pundits alike. The outcome of the World Cup will be decided in the final match, and one thing is certain: the drama and tension will only continue to build in the coming days.
Source: Yen Sports